Arms Open Wide

Come near. Stop striving. The Master of the banquet has raised His glass to welcome you as His dear child. So often Christians view Christ as someone who’s far away and can’t be approached until they have their lives in order.

Come near. Stop striving. The Master of the banquet has raised His glass to welcome you as His dear child.

So often Christians view Christ as someone who’s far away and can’t be approached until they have their lives in order. In Arms Open Wide, author Sherri Gragg proves that Christ is a kinder, more tender, more loving Savior than many understand Him to be.

Sherri writes in fictional narrative form while mixing biblical history with scripture, creating a setting that transforms readers back in time and places them right in Jesus’ presence. For thirty-four days readers walk with the Savior to witness miraculous healings and events, and give fresh insight into His power by thinking and feeling with people whose lives became instantly transformed by His love and grace. Readers journey with Jesus and His disciples in the most important time in history.

Hearts will be stirred and lives will be changed as readers draw near and walk with the Savior as never before.

Features & Benefits:

Helps readers experience the kindness and grace of Jesus

Instills a deep, lasting impression about the love and forgiveness our Savior offers

Will transform readers as they engage in a first-person experience of what it might have been like to walk with Jesus when He was on the earth

Brings to life biblical traditions and customs while helping readers experience Jesus’ life and the miracles He performed

Contributor(s)

Sherri Gragg

About the Contributor(s)

Sherri Gragg

Sherri Gragg fell in love with stories as a child, discovering that she could travel to any place and any moment in time between the covers of a book. Today as a writer she takes her readers with her on the journey. Her first book, Arms Open Wide: A Call to Linger in the Savior’s Presence, utilizes cultural background and archeology to immerse the reader in some of the most riveting moments of the Gospels. Sherri is a nationally published freelance writer and award winner in the 2012 Writer’s Digest Competition and lives with her husband and five children in Franklin, Tennessee.

ISBN-10

1400323460

ISBN-13

9781400323463

Release Date

May 6, 2014

Weight (lbs)

1.5400

Height

8.25

Width

6.38

Length

224

Length Unit

Pages

Publisher

Thomas Nelson

Price

$16.99

Format

Hardcover

Language

English

Customer Reviews

Review by Nellie Dee

Rating

Come near. Stop striving. The Master of the banquet has raised His glass to welcome you as His dear child. Sherri Gragg proves that Christ is a kinder, more tender, more loving Savior than many understand Him to be.

With an introduction like the above, I was eager to read this book and excitedly opened the box to examine my new book. I instantly wondered if they had put lead or gold in the cover. For a book of its size, it was very heavy. After reading the acknowledgments and introduction, I was sure the weight had significance due to the anointing I felt after just the first few pages. Yes, in just those few pages, I was convinced that I held a holy book.

Admittedly, I jumped in and was determined to read as many devotionals as possible in order to get through the book in a timely manner, but, as the subtitle invites the reader to linger, I relaxed and slowed my pace to savor the chapters, for this is no ordinary devotional. The author retells the encounters with Christ as if it is with each one of us, personally, encountering Him with our own ailments and character flaws. She weaves in historical details that help the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and attitudes during the time of Christ.

I liked the stories where Christ loved on the person in spite of their weakness or sin. I didn't care as much for the retelling of Christ's death because it seemed more redundant. But, the last chapter, The Restoration of Peter, was a powerful finale of hope to all those who have tasted failure. Using this devotional was like getting a big hug of encouragement and reassurance so I could run off and play again, which I know we all need.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs encouragement and who desires to gain a greater understanding of the time when Christ walked the earth.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my review. I was not required to give a positive review. Thank you Thomas Nelson and BookLook Bloggers.(Posted on 7/15/2014)